Engine governor



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. ASPINAL L. ENGINE GOVERNOR No, 516,041. PatentedMaQrfG, 1894.

M Q w (No-Model.) u H 4 Sheets-Si1e efi2.

H. ASPINALL.

ENGINE GOVERNOR.

o. 516,041. PaQten cedMar. 6,1394.

(N0 Mbdell 4 SheetsSheet 4.

HASPINALL. ENGINE GOVERNOR. No. 516,041. Patented Mar. 6, 1894;

- ernor,

UNITED STATES i-innsnnr ASPINALL, on

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

ENGINE-GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION ibrnciing part of Letters Patent No. 516,041, dated March 6, 1894.

A plication filed September 26, 1893. Serial No. $86,542. (No model.) Iatented in England September 29,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT ASPIN ALL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Engine-Governors, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 13,175, hearing date September 29, 1887,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide, and consists of,-a governor used in connection with steam, and other fluid pressure on gines, in which the momentum or inertia of a mass is adapted, through suitable devices, to actuate a valve or apparatus by which the entrance of the steam or other gas into the cylinder or cylinders thereof is cut off or regulated, when the rate of speed thereof reaches that or goes beyond that at which it is desired they should run at; it is, however, also applicable to other means of controlling the movement of such engines, such as that in which communication between the top and bottom of the cylinder or cylinders is or are formed for putting the piston or pistons in equilibrium.

One illustration of the application of this invention, is given in the drawings hereto annexed, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the governor. Fig. 2'is a plan, and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively sections taken at the lines X X and Y Y Fig. 1, while Fig. 5 illustrates the mode of connection between the governor and the controlling valve such as the throttle valve or other valve of a steam engine or other fluid pressure engine.

The mode of governing under this invention consists in adapting or causing a govwhose action, and effect (when, and only when, the engine runs at a rate of speed greater than mentnm or inertia of a mass thereon created by oscillating same bya part of or connected with the engine, to bring into motion or move into position a part which acts upon a stationary part or mechanical device connected with the throttle valve or controlling valve of the engine, or a starting engine thereon, and operates them, cutting off the steam or fluid supply, or controlling or neutralizing the that desired) are due to the mosteam in the cylinder or cylinders thereof;. the governor otherwise being inoperative at all timeswhen the rate of speed of the engine is not abnormally high.

The governor, for convenience, will be described as applied to a steam engine.

Referring now to the drawings, a is the mass, which is hinged to a base 22 by the pin 0, which passes through lugs a and a on a, and lugs b on Z). 0n the under side of the mass a near the lug a? there is loosely connected, through the intervention of a spring cl working in tension, a cross bar or lever a the spring being connected to a by the pin 01 and to the bar or lever a by the loop (1 This bar or lever a projects on either side of the mass at, terminating as jaws, as shown, which each grasps a pin g cn the pawls ghereinafter described. The pawls are adapted to engage with the lever or other equivalent device connected with the throttle valve or other governing valve or apparatus by which the supply of motor fluid to the cylinders is controlled, or by which the action thereof within the cylinders is neutralized or equivalently governed. The pawls gare hinged by pins g to the base I), on which hinges they rock; and they are connected with and operated by the jaws of the bar or lover a which grasp pins g on one side of said pawls. The action of the mass 0. upon the pawls g is, that according to the position of the mass, that is, according to whether in action it is moved up into the position shown in the drawings, or in its normal position, that is, resting below the horizontal plane in which its hinge lies, so will the lower or upper pawl be thrown awav outward from the base 1). And if the said it; ver of the controlling valve or other apparatus of the engine be disposed in the same plane as and path of said pawls, it will be operated thereby, as hereinafter described.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the governor is shown attached to the air pump leverv of an ordinary inverted cylinder condensing steam engine (but of course any other similarly operated or operating lever or arm will do instead) and moves therewith, while the controlling valve-which is designated 'w-is the ordinary throttle valve, said valve being worked by a lever y hinged at y to the condenser of the engine, the free end of which lies within the vertical plane, and path traversed by the ends of the pawls g when out. The lever y is connected to the valve to, by rods g and bell cranks 3 In the case of the governor being mounted on a moving lever such as 'v, to enable the inertia of the mass a in motion to be varied and adjusted, I provide an adjustable portion on the mass, the adjustment being radial, whereby the center of gravity of said mass is or may be shifted closer to or farther from the point about which it is moved in its oscillations. This is effected by the plug a which screws in and out of the end of the mass a. By turning this plug in or out of the end of the mass a the center of gravity will be adjusted or varied, and may be fixed in that position by locking the plug a with the nut a The purpose of the lower pawl g is to cut oif the supply of steam, orotherwise to reduce or retain the rate of speed of the engine constant, While the upper one is to bring the parts back to their normal position, that is, actuate the apparatus and put the engine in its normal Working state after it has been operated by the lower pawl.

To hold the governor in its actuated state, i. c. with the mass at up, after it has come into operation due to the racing of an engine or an abnormal rate of speed being obtained, I provide an automatic catch device. This holds it in this position, and the lower pawl 9 out, for the return down-stroke and the next up-stroke of the air pump lever, and it is automatically released by coming into contact with the lever y at the commencement of the next down-stroke, which releases and allows the weight or mass a to fall, and so move outward the upper pawl g. This arrangement is shown in the drawings. The device shown consists of a catch h hinged on the pin 77/ to the base I), and having an actuating lever 7L loosely mounted at h ,the inner end of said lever 72. normally bearing upon the journal h of the catch it. This position is obtained by the spring 'Z connecting the inner end of the lever 71.2 with the fixed part of the base. Thus when the outer end is pressed downward it is free to turn upon its mounting or hinge 77. without aifecting the catch h, but when pressed upward it pulls back the catch it. The catch it engages with the projecting partj formed at right angles to the part j which is an extension or projection on the end of the mass a. The action of the mechanism is that when through the increased rate or motion. of the governor, due to that of the engine, the mass a assumes the upper position (shown in Figs. 1 to 4), at the end of the stroke of the lever to which it is attached, and due to the momentum or inertia thereof, it causes the end of the projectionj to leave the nose of the catch h, and then the spring i brings the catch over the end of it into the position shown in Fig. 3; and it holds it there until released by the lever it coming into contact with the end of the lever y at the beginning of the next downstroke of the governor. In the upstroke preceding this downstroke, the lever h is moved about its hinge 71 in passing the lever y, and then when past, flies up again, this action being effected by the spring.

In some cases, I provide on the governor a means by which, when the steam or motive fluid has been shut off from the engine, or its action in the engine neutralized, by the action of the governor as herein before mentioned, that it shall remain so, and therefore the upper pawl g (by which ordinarily the engine is put back to its normal Working condition) shall remain in, and the under one out; whereby of course the engine will be brought to rest. This is particularly designed and applicable for engines where the work on them becomes suddenly removed such as by the breaking of a propeller shaft of a ship, or the crank shaft of a marine engine orother engine, and in analogous cases. A mechanism by which this is efiected is provided on the governor illustrated in the drawings. It consists of a body of metal 70 supported on the base I) bya hinge pin 70. To the body 70 is connected a projecting piece k extended toward the pawls g, and workingin connection with a right angle projectiouj on the extension j of the mass a. The action of this is, that when a sudden removal of the work, such as by the breaking of the crank shaft, takes place, and a very sudden accession of speed is the result, the body In, which normally lies horizontally as shown in the plan Fig. 2 (and which when an ordinary accession of speed takes place is not operated), is moved from the horizontal plane-its normal position-int0 the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, thereby bringing the part 70 under the projection 7' (which of course will be in its raised or outer position when the body 70 is moved as shown in Fig. 3), so holding the mass to up and the lower pawl 9 out. In the swinging up of the body 7r; from the horizontal plane, the lower edge thereof will, when arrived in the vertical plane, drop into a recess provided in the upper edgeZof the horn Z of the frame, the aperture in the lug Z0 of the body 70 through which the hinge pin it" passes being slotted, and that at the other end of k sufliciently loose, to allow the lower edge of the body 76 to drop into the recess in Z, after having moved over the surface thereof. The shape of the horn Z isa rounded one to provide an even motion for the body it in riding over it. \Vhen once the body it is in the vertical position it drops into the recess at Z, and so locks the body 7; in this position, and the lower pawl g in its outer position.

The general action of the governor is as follows: Then an engine, through the diminution of work upon, or resistance to it, increases its rate of speed, to say some small extent, the governor, being attached to or mounted on a reciprocating part thereon or ICC connected thereto, will also be moved at the same increased rate, and the mass at will, at the upper end of the stroke or the commencement of the down stroke of the part to which it is attached, cause the mass to assume the position shown in the drawings Figs. 1 to e by its momentum or inertia, and the lower pawl g to be pressed out; while the catch it will engage with the part j in the manner above described, and will during that downstroke and the next upstroke of the governor, hold the mass at up. Toward the end of this down stroke the lever y is passed by the lower out-standing pawl g, and is pressed inward by said lever; in which action it presses back the bar or lever a connected with it and extends the spring cl (this spring being provided for this purpose), and when past the lever y the spring causes the said pawl g to re-assume its outstanding position. 'Then in the next up stroke the lower pawl g will engage with the end of the lever y and will lift it, so actuating the steam controlling valve '10 operated by said clever. In the commencement of the next down stroke of the governor, the lever 7152 will come in contact with the end of the lever (now in its top position), catch it will be pulled off the part j, and the mass at is released and can fall, which thereby throws forward the upper pawl g, and draws inward the lower pawl J, The upper pawl will then, in the next downstroke, if the increase of rate of speed has been reduced to the normal rate, engage with the lever y and willbring back same to its bottom normal position, (that is the position it takes when it is not actuated by the governor, and the engines are not running over their maximum normal speed,) and will open the throttle valve to and readmit steam. When the upper pawl is out, and passes in the upstroke the lever y in its top position, it is free to be pressed inward against the pressure of the spring (2, and is pressed inward by said lever, which moves over its inclined back. This action is similar to that set forth with reference to the lower pawl g above specified.

In the case of the mode of governing herein described being applied to cases where the governing is eitected by throwing the top and bottom of a cylinder or cylinders of an engine into equilibrium, in any of the known ways, the governor would, through a lever such as y or its equivalent, actuate said valves by which the equilibrium on the opposite sides of the piston or pistons is effected, or the valve of an auxiliary actuating cylinder by which this was done,

What is claimed in respect tothe hereindescribed invention is- 1. In a steam or otherfiuid-pressure engine governor, a mass mounted by a loose joint on a vibrating part of or connected with the on gine and adapted when the rate of speed of the engine is abnormal to change its position by its momentum or inertia, an engaging device and so the connected with and moved by the said mass when operated, a stationary part as a lever or arm adapted to be engaged with and operated by said engaging device, and a motor fluid governing valve connected with and operated by said stationary part through which the rate of speed of said engine is controlled, substantially as described.

2. In a steam or other fluid pressure engine governor, a mass (a) mounted byaloose joint to a reciprocating part of or connected with the engine; a loosely mounted pawl (g) connected with and operated by said mass and adapted to move it awayfrom and toward the reciprocating part as when the weight stands at its top position or lower position, according to whether the rate of speed of the engine is abnormal or normal, and a stationary lever one part of which is disposed in the path of said pawl when moved by the movement oi the mass when actuated by its momentum or inertia; substantially as set forth.

3. In a steam or other fluid pressure engine governor, a mass to, pivotally mounted to a vertically reciprocating lever (such as o), and operated by its inertia or momentum when the engine runs at an abnormally high rate of speed; pivotally mounted pawls, g, connected with and operated by said mass and alternately moved outward and inward latorally into and out of the vertical plane in which they lie; a lever y mounted on a stationary part, one en d of which lies in the path of the said pawls when moved outward, by which said lever is either pressed up or down according to which pawl is moved into the plane in which said lever lies and moves, by the action of said mass 0L, and a motor fluid controlling valve connected with said lever, y, and operated thereby, whereby the fluid supply is governed and controlled, and the rate of speed of the engine is kept constant.

4:. In a steam or other fluid pressure engine governor, the combination with a lever of the engine (such as e) reciprocating in the vertical plane, of a mass a, pivotally mounted in a plane horizontal to said mass and free to es cillate about said pivot mounting; pawls g mounted and working one above the other in the vertical plane at right angles to the plane in which the mass at is moved, andconnected to and operated by said mass by arms a one on either side of said mass, and the free end of each of which is adapted to be thrownoutward and inward of said vertical plane in which the said parts are moved up and down; a detent, h, adapted to hold said mass up when in its upper position until the motor fluid controlling valve has been operated and the rate of speed of the engine has been reduced to its normal rate; and a lever connected with the controlling valve or valves, one part of which is disposed within the path of said pawls 9 when in their outward position, and is operated by said pawls alternately,whereby the controllingvalve or valves of the engine is or are operated, and the rate of the engine is kept constant; substantially as set forth.

5. In a steam-engine governor, a mass (a) mounted on a vertically oscillated part of or connected to the engine to be governed, and

vibrated thereby, and adapted when the rate of speed of the engine is abnormal, to change its position thereon, due to the momentum or inertia thereof; a mechanism moved by said mass when it assumes its abnormal position, and adapted to come into contact with a stationary part (such as a lever) connected with a steam governing valve'of the engine, and operate same, and which, when the rate of speed is normal, is not acted upon by said part operated by the mass; and a body (It) similarly mounted to and operating as the said mass, and adapted to come into operation when a sudden removal of all work on the engine, and a sudden and great increase of the rate of speed thereof, take place, and to hold said mass and the mechanism operated thereby in the position in which the controlling valve of the engine is such as to stop same.

6. In a steam engine governor vertically oscillated by said engine, the combination of the mass a; the upper and lower pawls g; and a cross bar or lever a connected with said mass and said pawls, and held to said mass by a spring cl, whereby the pawls may be moved, while the mass at is held; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a steam engine governor adapted to be vertically oscillated by said engine, the combination of the mass a; a base Z), supporting said mass by hinged mountings c; the upper and lower pawls g hinged to said base; the cross bar or lever a connected to said mass by a spring d, and to said pawls; the catch h adapted to engage with a part, j, on said mass; the lever h hinged to said catch it, and adapted to be moved about said hinge in one direction without afiecting said catch, and in the other to pull said catch back out of con" nection with the part and aspring t' adapted to hold the lever 72 up; said pawls g and lever h being adapted to operate in connection with a stationary device connected with the engine, and by which the motor fluid controlling valve or valves is or are operated; substantially as set forth.

8. In a steam engine governor adapted to be mounted on a vertically oscillating lever of said engine, the combination of a mass a mounted on a base I); upper and lower pawls connected with and operated by said mass,'

and adapted to actuate a lever connected with the motor fluid controlling valve or valves; and an adjustable mass on or connected with said mass at adapted to be adjusted closer to or farther from the point of oscillation of the said governor lever, whereby the rate of speed at which the governor will come into action can be varied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT ASPINALL. Witnesses:

ERNEST R. RoYsToN, JAMES A. COUBROUGH,

Both of 15 Water St, Lt'rcrpool. 

